A Chinese frigate crossed the bow
of the Impeccable at a range of about
100 yards March 5. Maritime aircraft
buzzed the ship after that incident.

Another Chinese ship challenged

Impeccable over bridge-to-bridge
radio March 7, calling its operations
illegal and directing the American
ship to leave the area or "suffer the
consequences," officials said.

The Impeccable is one of six sur-
veillance ships that gather underwater
acoustical data, Whitman said. U.S.
ships routinely operate in the area.
"We expect Chinese ships to act
responsibly and refrain from provoca-
tive activities that could lead to mis-
calculation or a collision at sea,
endangering vessels and the lives of

U.S. and Chinese mariners," a

Defense Department official said.

U.S. embassy officials lodged a
protest against these actions with the

Foreign Ministry in China, and

Defense Department officials have
protested with the Chinese embassy
here.
(Reported by Jim Garamone, American

Two Chinese trawlers stop directly in
front of the military Sealift Command
ocean surveillance ship USNS

Impeccable (T-AGOS-23), forcing the
ship to conduct an emergency "all
stop" in order to avoid collision. The
incident took place in international
waters in the South China Sea about
75 miles south of Hainan Island. The
trawlers came within 25 feet of

Impeccable, as part of an apparent
coordinated effort to harass the
unarmed ocean surveillance ship.
(U.S. Navy photo/Released)